HALLELUJAH, it's Emma Kok | Opera Singer REACTS

[@nickhiggsthesinger]

If you enjoyed this video and want YOUR suggestions to get bumped up to the top of the list, consider buying me a coffee! buymeacoffee.com/nickhiggssinger

[@RogerC-2024]

I did wonder when you might circle around to Emma again. I loved it. Thank you To your question on Emma's health challenges, this needs a bit of explanation. Emma suffers from gastroparesis (a paralysed stomach). This means for nutrition Emma has relied on 2 liquid feeding pumps since the age of 9 months that are connected through an interface in her abdominal wall (a Mickey Button) and internal tubes, one to her stomach, and one to her intestine. Emma's stomach can only tolerate ultra tiny amounts of food that Emma sometimes takes just for taste, and her stomach processes these extremely slowly. Occasionally her stomach gives up completely and this causes intense pain. So Emma does occasionally have pain when she sings, but this isn't caused by her singing, simply a function of her gastroparesis. It also does not normally prevent her signing. Of 112 concerts so far completed by Emma on Andre Rieu's world tours, plus other performances she does, to my knowledge Emma has only ever missed one concert. This was in South America in September 2024 and the problem may have been exacerbated by altitude. Despite being unwell, Emma did still go on stage and attempt to sing. She actually tried a couple of times but unfortunately had to bow out. However the next day Emma was back on the same stage as normal. Emma has made other decisions around her treatment to ensure she is able to continuously perform. For example, every 5 months Emma has to have the Mickey Button that I described above along with the internal tubing replaced. This involves removing he Mickey Button interface from her abdomen, threading guide wires down the internal tubes, removing the tubes from her body and then threading new tubes over the guide wires so they find their way to the right places, and then fitting a new Mickey Button. This, typically 15 minute procedure, is usually done under anesthetic and therefore the patient is intubated with a tube down the throat and wind pipe. However, the consequence of this is a severe sore throat that can last a week to ten days. So, at the age of 13, Emma herself took the decision to undergo this procedure without anesthetic so as to protect her voice. Although the procedure is short, it is extremely painful, but it does mean that Emma can perform almost straight away. Last July 2nd there was an extreme case, when the guide wires and tubes got coiled up inside Emma, and it took the medics an hour to sort things out. Emma was on the Vrijthof Square in Maastricht the very next day on July 3rd, albeit wrapped in a winter coat, hat and scarf, for full sound checks with Andre's orchestra. Then she performed for 12500 people on each of the 4th, 5th, 6th and 7th. You may want to look at Emma singing 'John Lennon's 'Imagine'. Frankly, it is the best version of Imagine I have ever heard. And to the point you made in your video here, Emma starts off gently and builds us up through the performance to something really special. Emma sang this version of Imagine live on Dutch TV on 25th October 2024, on the 'Carrie On Friday' show. At 5pm that day, Emma had announced on her social media, her first full concert in her own name at Amsterdam's prestigious Concertgebouw for October 2025. Presumably the TV appearance was to kick start a year of ticket sales. First of all, Emma was interviewed on the TV show, and then at 7:45pm Emma stood up to sing Imagine, so under 3 hours since her first announcement. By this time the concert was already fully sold out!! Emma Kok singing 'Imagine': kzbin.info/www/bejne/rqGkeqSved6Vns0

[@RonaldvanSteensel]

I already knew that Emma is a fantastic singer and performer. But much thanks in pointing that out again! I very much appreciate the technical explanation to why she sounds so magnificent. Try Dancing On The Stars next. You'll hear that her voice has grown a lot since this performance. Love and support from The Netherlands! Subscribed

[@trbarton743]

Thanks for your great video & explaining things & what’s she is doing with her voice. She’s 16 now & has been on a world tour. Yes please watch her on Dancing with the Stars. It’s my favorite performance of her singing with a big orchestra. Looking forward to your video of Dancing with the Stars.

[@Nikki_SE]

I love Emma. Actually, I was searching what other musicians were saying about her voice, so I met Nick the Singer. After that, I decided to support Nick, as he has great potential.

[@nickhiggsthesinger]

Thank you so much - you are the best!!!

[@ChrisDart4232]

You are probably up to date with Emma now. She is exceptional in every way. Has very many songs and many millions of views on KZbin, Spotify and others. Check out 'Dancing on the stars' - 'You raise me up' - 'Father' and many more. She is Dutch, her English is better than many native speakers and her German is very good. Despite 'Voila' she does not claim to speak French - learnt it phonetically with the meaning. She also speaks Limburg dialect which is much different to Dutch.

[@pdutchie4924]

A year after Voila she performed ‘Dancing on the stars’ in the same concert. Definitely worth checking out as well.

[@WNYretiree]

You know how you sit back in your chair when you're really impressed, Nick. I just did that at the end of the song. I would imagine that there is always a bit of concern with young singer as to how their voice matures. I think she'll be just fine. She has a truly lovely voice and, from her back story, I think she has the grit and determination to keep learning and improving.

[@markfallot2897]

Thanks for the technical analysis. Professional singers understand HOW to produce the sounds. Who knew that there is a technique for getting the “Lu” sound right, lol. I agree with you that going from full voice back to a soft whisper is very hard - and she does this several times in “Dancing on the Stars.” You will enjoy that too!

[@Djekkie-gj7jz]

What I do know is that Emma does vocal exercises for her performances from Cheryl Porter. There is a TikTok video of her doing vocal exercises with Cheryl Porter. She takes lessons at the Babette Labeij Music Academy and she has or had lessons from Joëlle Savelkoul.

[@hawkins1066]

Just 2 weeks ago, Emma posted a photo on social media with Ms. Savelkoul. The caption was: "Today I went back on track with my vocal classes because some very exciting things are coming."

[@angelamarcelavelaartunduag5888]

Saludos Desde COLOMBIA, Tus reacciones Son Las Mejores

[@nickhiggsthesinger]

Thank you very much!

[@roeloftooms]

There is so much to discover, even her performances from the voice kids are standing out. It will be interesting to hear how her voice will be when she is full grown up. Sadly she needs to keep her self on the tubes for 22 hours of the 24 a day.

[@lazerx1828]

The "Voilà" performance was from a concert held in July 2023, "Hallelujah" was from a Holiday concert held in December 2023. And I agree with you about the song, so many people think that the phrase "Hallelujah" automatically makes it a hopeful Christmas song, but Leonard Cohen was writing about stories from the Hebrew Bible, plus other unrelated situations. In addition the song is really not an uplifting song as the use of "Hallelujah" is ironic, the song is actually about being broken. (but don't tell anyone!)

[@AbeIJnst]

Why is it that the most gifted singers have the most difficult life? Don't know, Mother Earth has mysterious ways. Wish her the best, she deserves it. Edit: Are you seriously comparing her to Floor Jansen? Don't know which one of the two should be more proud.

[@Nickery1]

Great reaction NICK ! ..think You should also listen to here own and new song "Dancing on the Stars " ( with Andre )

[@feralgrandad4429]

im not crying.........ypur crying Nick 🙂

[@hawkins1066]

I appreciate your professional reaction and analysis of Emma's performance. So often reactors interrupt the video only to impart nothing of consequence to the performance, and thereby ruin the entire endeavor. This is the most beautiful rendition of Leonard Cohen's 'Hallelujah' that I have ever heard, and Emma's performance here, I think, mark her as one of the most promising young singers of her generation. You mentioned her ability to sing in a lower range than most young singers of her age. She is nearing 17 now, and while her voice has not fully matured yet, I wonder how you would classify her in terms of voice-type? My sense is that she will end up as a lyric mezzo-soprano capable of singing in the lower range, while maintaining the ability to soar. She also has a very sweet and breathy head voice as you noted in your analysis. I hear her tessitura as being similar to Adele or Lauran Daigle. What do you think?

[@takeitonline5693]

I dont know whats with her voice maybe the Hz. It's like she opens your heart and take a look inside, after she is finished her song, she closes it again.

[@pickin4you]

Great reaction. Something else to think about. Sue to her illness, she is 15 here, but only the height of the average 7 year old. She is very tiny. So now imagine that sound coming from a much smaller set of lungs. She also starts many songs without an orchestra, and when they come in, she has always been dead on pitch.

[@hakannorlings2439]

You should look at Dimash sing SOS in this video with subtitles. Dimash - S.O.S | Slavic Bazaar Welcome to the World of Dimash Kudaibergen. He is 28yo, 6'3", and has a 7 0ctave + 2 semi-tones range (C1 - D8, sustained!) He uses his mixed and head voices with total control (not falsetto). Dimash is classically-trained since the age of 5. He sings in 15 different languages, and speaks 7 different languages. His mother is an opera singer, and his father is a pop singer, both well known in their own country. He is a very humble young man, as well, and calls his fans his "Dears". You will be deluged with suggestions for reactions to his many performances. May I suggest you check out "Love is Like a Dream", "Stranger", "Ogni Pietra" (Olimpico, w/Igor Krutoy) and ""Ave Maria". Your subs will probably take a jump, as well.

[@eiskalterEngel86]

Oh man i would really like to see your reaction to Sleep Token - The Summoning. I enjoy your vids so much!

[@nickhiggsthesinger]

One comment about this song being a "Christian" song - I perhaps misspoke a bit here. I'll let you draw your own conclusions about this, but I encourage you to look into Leonard Cohen's thoughts/opinions on this song.

[@mariannevandenberg9777]

the broken halleluja .. Thats why its a christmas song .. haleluja is broken .. sitting in chuch is not being a christian ..

[@dolfy1962]

Thanks for this pro comment Nick, last year after 3 performances of Emma I was impressed by her. What I miss after your analysis of VOILA that you would also do DANCING ON THE STARS, how can I promote you for this ( kzbin.info/www/bejne/gp2UpoWVfbqChposi=5tZ-dfBl-N5gj61f )

[@sury4057]

Hello! you should react to "Shall we gather at the river" with ringmasters and Voces8!

[@christinapitak466]

Hi, Please react to Dimash Kudaibergen, he has ALOTE of new songs. Miss your reactions to him. Thank you. Peace and Love from Ohio, USA

[@pickin4you]

Being an older man and used to seeing older singer and how they did it way back when, I wished they would stop training these new sound engineers to tell these young singers to put that mic right up against their lips. This makes it sound a tad muffled and not clear. It should sound clear on every single word.

[@koengreen2540]

Heyy Nick, please react to O Helga natt by Jussi Bjorling. He was the biggest example of the great pavarotti.

[@ronaldderooij1774]

Emma suffers from stomach paralysis from birth. I don't know if it affect singing but she can't eat. She is on an infusion for 22 hours a day to give her nutrients and water.

[@ronaldderooij1774]

She reminds me a lot of Agneta Fältskog of ABBA. Even her face is similar and her voice too. Younger, but in 10 years time she will sound exactly like Agneta and that is a compliment. One criticism I do have. She is not yet very good with the microphone. Too close when breathing, too far if it matters going over the orchestra. Listen to Floor Jansen. You seldom hear her breathe. That is a microphone and breathing technique she still has to learn.

[@Azraerll]

React to Will Ramos it will blow your mind

[@missdove637]

kzbin.info/www/bejne/gp2UpoWVfbqChposi=c3UojG54l0ymD1IZ 😊

[@patwelch8187]

Sorry, not as good as Lucy Thomas..Not even close....